EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY EIGHTH EDITION IN MODULES David Myers PowerPoint Slides Aneeq Ahmad Henderson State University Worth Publishers, © 2011

2 Developing Through the Life Span

3 Adulthood Module 13

4 Physical Development  Physical Changes in Middle Adulthood  Physical Changes in Later Life Cognitive Development  Aging and Memory  Aging and Intelligence

Social Development  Adulthood’s Ages and Stages  Adulthood’s Commitments  Well-Being Across the Life Span 5

6 Adulthood Psychologists once viewed adulthood as one long plateau, but now feel that development continues through our adult lives. Though stages are difficult to define in adulthood, based on our similarities in development we use three terms, early, middle, and late adulthood. Rick Doyle/ Corbis

7 Physical Changes in Middle Adulthood Muscular strength, reaction time, sensory abilities and cardiac output begin to decline after the mid-twenties. Around age 50, women go through menopause – the natural cessation of menstruation – and men experience decreased levels of hormones and fertility. Aging and batting averages

8 Physical Changes in Later Life After age 70, hearing, distance perception, and the sense of smell diminish, as do muscle strength, reaction time, and stamina. After 80, neural processes slow down, especially for complex tasks.

9 At age 70, our motor abilities also decline. A 70- year-old is no match for a 20-year-old individual. Fatal accidents also increase around this age. Physical Changes in Later Life

10 Cognitive Development Do cognitive abilities like memory, creativity, and intelligence decline with age the same way physical abilities do?

11 Aging and Memory As we age, we remember some things well. These include recent past events and events that happened a decade or two back. However, recalling names becomes increasingly difficult.

12 Aging and Memory Recognition memory does not decline with age, and material that is meaningful is recalled better than meaningless material.

13 Aging and Intelligence It is believed today that fluid intelligence (ability to reason speedily) declines with age, but crystallized intelligence (accumulated knowledge and skills) does not. We gain vocabulary and knowledge but lose recall memory and process more slowly.

14 Aging and Intelligence Is it possible to stave off cognitive decline? One study found that 10 one-hour cognitive training sessions, with follow-up booster sessions a year (and more) later, led to improved cognitive scores (Boron et al., 2007; Willis et al., 2006).

15 Social Development Many differences between the young and old are not simply based on physical and cognitive abilities, but may instead be based on life events associated with family, relationships, and work.

16 Adulthood’s Ages and Stages Psychologists doubt that adults pass through an orderly sequence of age- bound stages. Mid- life crises at 40 are less likely to occur than crises triggered by major events (divorce, new marriage). Neuroticism scores, 10,000 subjects (McCrae & Costa, 1996).

Life events trigger life stage transitions at varying ages. The social clock – the culturally preferred timing of social events – varies from era to era and culture to culture. For instance, the once rigid schedule for Western women has now loosened. 17 Adulthood’s Ages and Stages

18 Adulthood’s Commitments Love and work are defining themes in adult life. Evolutionary psychologists believe that commitment has survival value. Parents that stay together are likely to leave a viable future generation. Despite increasing divorce rates, heterosexual adults still choose to marry. Worldwide, 9 in 10 marry, and marriage is a predictor of happiness, health, sexual satisfaction, and income.

19 Adulthood’s Commitments Happiness stems from working in a job that fits your interests and provides you with a sense of competence and accomplishment.

20 Well-Being Across the Life Span Well-being and people’s feelings of satisfaction are stable across the life span.

21 Successful Aging

22 Death and Dying The “normal” range of reactions or grief stages after the death of a loved one varies widely. Grief is more severe if death occurs unexpectedly. People who view their lives with a sense of integrity (in Erikson’s terms) see life as meaningful and worthwhile. Life satisfaction before, during the year of, and after a spouse’s death